It’s been a while since our last blog post, so first of all, thank you to all who attended the long-awaited premiere of ‘Small Country’ at the Highland Cinema. It was a joy to finally get the film out into the world, and the screening’s following Q&A yielded some very interesting conversation around many of the film’s major themes – land reform, agriculture, youth migration, population transition and tourism.

Now, for all those elsewhere along the west coast of Scotland unable to make it to the premiere, we’re thrilled to announce ‘Small Country’ will hit the road (literally) with the Screen Machine. For those not in the know, the Screen Machine is Scotland’s mobile cinema bringing blockbusters and independent films alike to small, remote and isolated communities where normally getting to a cinema would be a challenge. They’re a magnificent asset to the Scottish Highlands and Islands, and on a personal note it’s where I had my first ever cinema experience up in Orkney.

The film will be screening in a double-feature along with ‘Islands in Film’, a brilliant look at a single week in lockdown living on Mull, Iona, Ulva and Gometra. With footage from more than 70 contributors, it has been described as a “portrait of life in lockdown” by Mull-based director Alasdair Satchel.  The film’s trailer can be viewed here.

‘Small Country’ and ‘Islands in Film’ will begin their Highlands & Islands tour in Brodick on the 24th of July, with tickets also on-sale currently for Jura (26th) and Port Ellen (29th). More tickets for venues up the coast will be going on-sale over the coming weeks, so be sure to keep checking our social media pages (and Screen Machine’s) for updates on when ‘Small Country’ will be coming to you. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.